Typically, the only way to unlock a new area in The Sims 4 is by purchasing a Game Pack or Expansion Pack. What players might not know, however, is that there are a few hidden locations players can find, both in the base game and in special DLC. Once players choose a neighborhood and lot to move their Sims into, and once the Sims begin to work and live life, players may not move around much or explore the neighborhood.
However, they absolutely should move around and explore to unlock special Sims 4 hidden worlds, which often have empty lots and exclusive collectibles not found elsewhere in the game. With patience, finesse, and a few well-placed cheats, players can take their Sims to mystical areas hidden in plain sight within the Sims universe.
Accessing some of these Sims 4 hidden worlds requires players to have certain packs installed. The game has been receiving additional hidden worlds with each new DLC throughout the game’s lifespan. While some hidden worlds have been in the game since the beginning, new hidden worlds were added, such as the Snowy Escape expansion. Here are all the hidden areas available in The Sims 4, how to get to them, and what players can find there.
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Sylvan Glade (Base Game)
Sylvan Glade is one of two hidden areas players can access without purchasing extra DLC content. Nearby the Crick Cabana lot in Willow Creek, players may notice a large, ornate tree with glowing mushrooms by the canal that looks somewhat out of place among the rest of the foliage in the neighborhood. This is because it is a secret passage to Sylvan Glade.
Players cannot simply access the Grove by finding the tree, however. Their Sim has to encourage the tree to reveal its secret door. The player needs to have their Sim approach the tree and click on it. The only interaction that will be available at first is to View the tree. This will be the case the next few times the Sim interacts with the tree.
After a while, players will see the option to water the tree, which they should have their Sim do. Eventually, a few more interactions will open up, encouraging players to chat with the tree and compliment its leaves.
After Sims spend enough time talking to the tree, the tree will reveal a door. Players need to enter the passageway and answer a series of roleplay-esque questions about where their Sim will navigate inside the rabbit hole. They should select Follow the Sound, Travel Downstream, Enter the Mist, and Travel to Glade. If a player chooses incorrect options, the passage will eject the Sim, and the Sim will be left with an uncomfortable or embarrassed moodlet that will prevent them from trying again until it expires. Choosing the correct options will result in a loading screen, and the Sim will appear in Sylvan Glade.
Sylvan Glade has a hidden lot that players can build on if cheats are enabled. The lot is not very big, but it can be a good location for a tent, fridge, shower, and other need-filling objects players can use to avoid needing to go home when needs get low. To access this, players should open the console (on PC, Ctrl + C), type in testingcheats true, and press Enter. Once the console displays the message that cheats are enabled, players should type in bb.enablefreebuild. This will allow the player to build however they would like.
There is also a pond, a waterfall, and rare plants and fish in the Glade. It is the only place in the game where players can catch the Treefish, so Sims with the Angler trait will want to visit Sylvan Glade. Players can also find rare flowers, plants, and insects here for collecting and planting.
Players who have purchased the Spa Day Game Pack can also have their Sims return to Sylvan Glade simply through meditation.
The Forgotten Grotto (Base Game)
The Forgotten Grotto is another Sims 4 hidden world that is available to all players in the base game, but it takes a little more effort to access. The Forgotten Grotto is located in an abandoned mine in Oasis Springs and can be accessed either through Desert Bloom Park behind the Affluista mansion lot or behind the Landgraab lot.
The mine entrance is sealed by boards that cannot be broken until a Sim has reached Level 10 of the Handiness skill. Players can choose to achieve this through skill cheats or organically by having their Sims read books about Handiness, repair appliances and plumbing around their home, and perform upgrades to appliances, plumbing, and electronics.
Once a Sim has the correct Handiness level, players can click on the abandoned mine to have their Sim interact with it. It will take the Sim a few minutes of fiddling to open the mine shaft, which will trigger another rabbit hole adventure. They should select Take the Wide Path, then Climb the Ladder and Step onto the Ledge to transport into the Grotto.
Like Sylvan Glade, The Forgotten Grotto has many rare items to collect. The rare Batfish is only available in The Forgotten Grotto, making it a necessary stop for Angler Sims. It’s also a place to dig up rare collectibles, catch frogs and insects, and mine crystals and other minerals. There are several plant spawners available here, including onion and mushroom. Players do not appear to be able to build here, but there is a wooden toilet available in case Sims spend a long time exploring.
The Deep Woods (Outdoor Retreat Pack)
The Sims 4 Outdoor Retreat introduces the vacation world of Granite Falls. If players allow their Sims to explore the forest for a while, they should come across a shrub hole near a cabin. Clicking on this shrub hole should trigger a rabbit hole adventure. Players should choose Step Forward, Go Through the Web, Ignore the Object and Approach the Sim. The Sim will then enter The Deep Woods, also called Hermit’s House.
The hidden area contains a home lot owned by the Hermit, a lonely NPC player can interact with. As the Sim becomes friends with the Hermit, the Hermit will give the Sim gardening tips and a recipe for a great fertilizer.
Next to the Hermit’s home, in the waterfall, players who enjoy fishing should try their luck at catching the rare mountain lionfish, which is only available in this area. Players can find blackberry, also exclusive to this area, to plant at home. The Deep Woods is also the only place to find the will-o-the-wisp, walking stick, and dragon dragonfly insects, making it a must for collectors.
Planet Sixam (Get to Work Pack)
Players who have purchased The Sims 4: Get to Work Expansion Pack can have their Sims participate in active careers. In these careers, players control a Sim’s actions while they are at work in one of three careers in the Sims: Detective, Doctor or Scientist. This Expansion Pack comes with alien occult Sims as well as the Rocket Scientist skill, which Sims can learn and level up either on the side or through working the Scientist career. Players who do not select the Rocket Science career branch for their Sim will have to take a few extra steps to access this Sims 4 hidden world, Planet Sixam.
Players in the Rocket Science branch of the Scientist career can simply add a Wormhole Generator to their rocket, while Scientists in the more general branch of the career will need to build their Wormhole. These Scientists will need to upgrade their Wormhole Generator with two elements and two uncommon crystals and metals.
Once a Sim completes these steps, they can enter the rocket or wormhole and travel to the gorgeous environment on Sixam. If the player is traveling for work as a Scientist, they will encounter an alien party held in their honor at the Sixam bar. Otherwise, players can simply explore the planet and collect rare elements and materials. There are rare crystals and metals only available on the planet, as well as a six-piece collection of geodes unique to Sixam that will add an environment boost to the Sim’s home.
Players interested in gardening can find rare flowers and plants on Sixam: the Quill Fruit, Wild Orb, and Fang Flower. There are not, however, any fish on Sixam. Once players have finished exploring, they can use the Wormhole Generator to get back home.
Cave of Sulani (Island Living Pack)
The Sims 4: Island Living was released in 2019 and introduced the island destination Sulani. Sulani comes with its own culture and history, as well as exclusive island activities like sailing, cleaning the environment, and shell collecting.
While Sulani does not have a full hidden lot or neighborhood, players can explore the island to find a small cave. In the cave, interactions can help players collect shells and can spawn 10 Mermaid Kelp at one time. Both collection items are useful to help Sims transform into Mermaids, so it is a great place to stop for fans of occult Sims and mythical creatures.
The Magic Realm (Realm of Magic Pack)
The Magic Realm is probably the most well-known Sims 4 hidden world as it was heavily advertised before release. As with other hidden worlds, The Magic Realm is only accessible to players who have the Realm of Magic pack installed. The hidden world can be accessed by traveling to Glimmerbrook. Players will need to follow the footpath behind the empty starter lot until they reach a waterfall. If players have the Realm of Magic pack installed, they will see a portal coming out of the water. This portal will transport players to Sim 4’s The Magic Realm.
Mt. Komorebi Upper Mountain (Snowy Escape Pack)
Sims 4 players can access the Mt. Komorebi Upper Mountain if the Snowy Escape expansion pack is installed. To access the mountain, players will need to travel to the bathhouse in Yukimatsu district of Mt. Komorebi. Once they reach the onsen, they will need to use a mobile phone to start the mountain excursion social event. During the excursion, players will come across several hidden locations as they climb the mountain until they reach the very top.
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The SimsFranchise: The Sims
Platform: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
Released: 2014-09-02
Developer: Maxis
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genre: Simulation
ESRB: T
The Sims